Tottenham Snatch Mudryk from Leeds in Late Loan Deal

Leeds United’s hunt for a marquee winger has taken a major hit, with Mykhailo Mudryk set to join Tottenham Hotspur after a late move from the north London club blew their pursuit apart on deadline day.

For much of the window, Leeds were firmly in the race. A wide forward sits near the top of Daniel Farke’s wish list, and the Chelsea attacker had emerged as a serious option as the clock ticked towards tonight’s 11pm cut-off. But just as Elland Road’s hopes began to rise, Spurs stepped in and changed the script.

Spurs hijack Leeds move

Tottenham have moved quickly to secure Mudryk on a paid loan from Chelsea, with a buy option set at around £75 million, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano. The clause is not mandatory, giving Spurs flexibility while still staking a serious claim on the Ukrainian’s future.

Romano posted on X: “BREAKING: Mykhaylo Mudryk to Tottenham, here we go! Everything agreed also on personal terms. Mudryk joins #THFC on paid loan and also understand there will be a buy option clause not mandatory in the agreement. The Ukrainian will re-join De Zerbi.”

It marks another bold move in a lavish summer for Roberto De Zerbi’s side. The club have already overhauled their squad with a string of eye-catching arrivals: Andy Robertson on a free from Liverpool, Marcos Senesi on a free from Bournemouth, Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m from Brighton, Martin Dubravka on a free from Burnley, Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham, Sandro Tonali for £92.5m from Newcastle United, Savinho for £75m from Manchester City and Omar Marmoush on loan from City.

Now Mudryk is set to join that growing cast, with Spurs also preparing medicals for Tosin Adarabioyo as they close in on another deal with London rivals Chelsea.

Mudryk’s return from doping ban

Mudryk’s move comes at a pivotal moment in his career.

The 25-year-old was suspended for four years in 2024 after failing a drug test which showed a low concentration of the banned substance meldonium. He has not played since November of that year, his progress halted abruptly as the case dragged on.

An appeal eventually cleared the way for his return, with the ban resolved and Mudryk given the green light to play again at the end of last month. Tottenham are now ready to be the club that offers him a way back to the top level.

Leeds left searching – and their wingers warned

For Leeds, the fallout is immediate. The club remain determined to add attacking firepower before the deadline, but it will not be Mudryk lighting up the flanks at Elland Road.

That missed opportunity sharpens the focus on two Welsh wingers already in Yorkshire. Daniel James and Harry Wilson both operate out wide and now stand to benefit from the collapse of the Mudryk chase – at least in the short term.

Wilson, signed on a free from Fulham in the summer, is pushing to nail down a starting spot and make himself a central figure in Farke’s plans. James enters the campaign after a bruising 18 months, his rhythm disrupted by injury and frustration. Both now know the manager is still hunting competition for their positions.

Farke’s intent is clear. Leeds want more goals, more threat, more edge in the final third after last season’s 14th-place finish in the Premier League. Any new arrival between now and 11pm will arrive not as cover, but as a challenger.

Gnonto future tied to late business

One more subplot hangs over Elland Road: Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian forward is expected to leave for Fiorentina, but that move hinges entirely on whether Leeds can bring in a replacement before the window shuts.

No signing, no sale. It’s that simple.

So the clock runs down. Mudryk is heading to Tottenham. Leeds are back in the market, phones on, options open, knowing one decisive deal could reshape both their attack and Gnonto’s future before the deadline slams shut at 11pm.